Reality of Resettlement- DM Swaminathan

Saturday, 01 December 2012
Speech of Hon DM Swaminathan on Reality of Resettlement at the Parliment

Hon. Speaker,

I wish to thank you for bringing to the notice of this House, an issue that had remained unresolved for 22 long years in this country.

Hon. Speaker, at the outset I would like to stress that the problem of resettlement should no longer be a matter of concern in our country. It is our duty to bring this matter to an end. In the event of our failing in our duty in this regard foreign intervention is sure to set in even without our knowledge and nobody can stop it. An internal problem should be settled internally. We should not allow it to become a global issue.

A process should be in place for the Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese who lived in their traditional homelands in the Northern and Eastern Provinces for them to resettle themselves in their indigenous villages.

Hon. Speaker,

The Muslims who fled from their homeland are now clamouring to go back to their native soil. Some of them in their endeavour to resettle themselves amidst untold misery are anxiously awaiting a situation conducive for their livelihood. Even now you can see such displaced persons in areas like Puttalam and Nachchiyativu.

Resettlement should not be an exercise where people are hauled off and dumped in the middle of a jungle without basic amenities whatsoever. I will give examples of such instances later on.

When displaced persons are resettled basic facilities, security, sanitation, opportunities for the children’s education, means of livelihood etc. should be ensured.

Hon Speaker,

More than 1700 persons belonging to 400 families of Koppapilavu in the Mullaitivu district who were confined to the Manik Farm Camp for 3 years after the end of the war hurriedly carted down to Suriyapuram under the pretext of “resettlement”. We are personally aware of the agonizing plight in which they have been placed.

These people who are said to be resettled are experiencing tremendous hardships without an environment that is conducive for a decent living and basic facilities. They have been resettled without drinking water or toilet facilities being provided.

It has been reported that while IDPs were clearing their premises they have come across explosives. This has created fears in the minds of these people. There have been instances where even the security forces have shunned to drink the water made available for the IDPs.

These people are living among explosives and human excreta and it is unfortunate that they are compelled to keep their children within the confines of their houses.

These people have suffered enough during the time of war and thereafter in their camps. It is the duty of the government to resurrect them from their distress and create an atmosphere where they can live peacefully.

Hon. Speaker,

Closing down Manik Farm does not mean that all IDPs have been resettled. Nearly one hundred thousand people who were displaced during the last stages of the war are living with their friends and relatives and in unregistered welfare centres.

There is reason for these people to be living under these conditions. They fear that if houses are constructed in places where they are presently housed temporarily and if they are settled there permanently they would be deprived of their traditional homelands and agricultural lands. These fears have set in their minds since in certain places people are settled by force.

Hon. Speaker,

People living in Mullikulam, Mannar have been moved from there and resettled in a jungle area at Kayakkuly. People living in Valaigner Madam have been resettled in Thippili.

The main livelihood of these people is fisheries. Now they have been taken 10 Km away from the coastal belt and they are finding it difficult to engage themselves in occupation from which they earn their livelihood. Resettlement of this nature should be done away with. It is of vital importance to consider the matters that I mentioned earlier while carrying out resettlement programmes.

Hon. Speaker,

People suffered desolation for three decades of war. They lost all their belongings which they collected with their hard earned money; scores of lives and limbs were lost; people were deprived of their occupation; they suffered starvation, pain of mind and body. Now it is only their lives that have been spared. At this stage their aspiration is only to return to their native soil. I appeal to the Hon. Speaker to help make their dream a reality without allowing it to shattered.

I hope you are aware that the United Nations Human Rights Co-ordinator for Sri Lanka expressed concern that displaced persons are not in a position to return to their native places even though the camps are closed down.

Our people do not want “Lamborgini” luxury cars. What they want is their own land. “Never mind the government’s unwillingness to provide us with basic facilities. All we want is be settled in our own areas and that we will look after ourselves” They bemoaned.

Hon. Speaker,

I wish to bring a few unpleasant happenings in Omanthai, Vanni recently. On the 19th morning “Kibeer” planes were flying low at Mullaitivu with a terrific noise and the students who were on their way to school had to abandon their cycles on the road and hide themselves under the trees. The public were fleeing to safer places. Students who were in school had to take cover under the tables for safety.

On Deepavali day too the “Kibeer” planes were flying low sending waves of fear across the minds of the people. I appeal that the repetition of this incident should not occur.

Hon. Speaker,

The education of some children in the Vanni district has been hampered and an unfortunate situation prevails where the children have to continue their education under shades of trees. Issues with regard to the education of children in the Vanni district should be addressed forthwith.

I wish to bring another vital issue to your kind notice.

The Security Forces are now vehemently engaged in setting up a new military camp on a stretch of land with an extent of 8600 acres near Veddukkulam, Velanai on Jaffna-Kayts main road.

People are perturbed over the new army camps being set up on the lands belonging to the abandoned Sinhala Maha Vidyalayas in the Jaffna Town and the adjoining areas of Vadamaratchi and Vallai.

Although the government claims to have curbed the presence of the armed forces and that there are only 15000 members of the security forces in Jaffna Peninsula, reports say that there is yet another cadre of 45,000.

Besides that the army is in occupation of a 2282 acre land belonging to the people in the Koppapilavu area and the officers are compelling the people to hand over to them the permits in respect of such lands

There is no doubt that the setting up of new army camps and the fear of the “Kabir” planes will make our children mentally deranged.

All what we want is to see that the Tamils are allowed to live freely and independently without the harassment of the armed forces. This does not mean that we expect the armed forces to be removed completely from there.

Hon. Speaker,

It was reported in this House last week that an alarming number of 65,000 persons are mentally depressed in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. I wish to draw the attention of this House to the fact that in Vanni alone there are some 15,000 students who are mentally affected.

Young men and women who have been rehabilitated and brought into the mainstream of the society are suddenly taken into custody and detained by the armed forces for inquiries as a result of which they are unable to carry on with their occupation. Even the employers are reluctant to offer jobs to these young men and women fearing that they too might be taken in for questioning.

Hon. Speaker,

Hon. Minister Susil Premjayantha stated in this House that displaced Tamils do not extend their co-operation to build up the North. I would like to stress on point here. The government often charges that liberation tigers are operating on the international level. At the backdrop of this accusation displaced persons fear to return to Sri Lanka.

Some Tamil youths coming from the European countries to visit their relatives are taken into custody at the Airport for enquiries. Under these circumstances how can one expect the displaced persons to return to their country. The government should dispel fears and display enduring and firm confidence towards these displaced persons.

The predicament of the Tamil political prisoners languishing in detention camps for several years without any charge being made against them or investigations being conducted too should be addressed. The government should take steps to release them forthwith in the same manner in which Kumaran Pathmanathan who was identified by the government as being in charge of procuring weapons in the international arena for the LTTE was absolved of all accusations and allowed to walk away scot-free.

Recently Tamil prisoners in the Vavuniya prison were brutally assaulted and were transferred to Anuradhapura prison where Nimalaruban and Dilrukshan who were in a state of coma eventually succumbed to their injuries in vain.

Why are they still detained when it is three years since the war is over and the State having given an assurance that there is no more terrorist threats in the country.

In the North an enormous number of women have been thrust into a quandary leaving them to wonder whether their husbands are dead or alive.

Hon. Speaker,

A census of children who have become disabled and orphans having lost both their parents due to the war is of an utmost importance.

People in the Northern and Eastern Provinces have become panicky and riddled about their future when they see Lord Buddha’s statues being erected all of a sudden in several places in the traditional homelands of the Tamils.

Hon. Speaker,

We vehemently condemn the incident that took place in the Jaffna University Campus where T. Premananth, Editor of “Udayan” who called at the Campus to cover incidents taking place there was mercilessly attacked and the beating on comrade E. Saravanabawan, Member of Parliament who went there to witness the incident.

The Army has no right whatsoever to manhandle media personnel who have the right to publish the views of their people or the people’s representatives who are elected by the people.

Prior to this too there had been several instances where media men who carry out their duties unreservedly in Jaffna had been threatened and media organizations attacked.

Despite the government’s reassurance that media freedom would be safeguarded, the media freedom, particularly in Jaffna is deplorably non-existent. The government is answerable to this situation.

The government should also reveal as to who gave the authority to the Forces to perpetrate attacks on Members of Parliament and journalists.

Those who are responsible for these ruthless assaults on journalists and Members of Parliament should be brought before the law and appropriately dealt with.

The government will have to face grave consequences if such unfortunate happenings are not stopped forthwith.

I conclude with an appeal to put an end to such catastrophe.